Va’eschanan – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it.” (4:2)

The admonishment against diminishing a word of the Torah is easily comprehensible. Why are we exhorted, however, not to add mitzvos to the Torah? Would not adding mitzvos serve to enhance our service of Hashem? Horav Yaakov Neiman Z”l responds with a simple, but emphatic, statement. We must believe that the Torah was given directly to Moshe by Hashem. He presented the book with all aspects of each mitzvah fine-tuned to perfection. Thereafter, he handed the Torah to Moshe to transmit to Bnei Yisrael in its entirety. As it is expressed so eloquently in Tehillim (19) “the Torah of Hashem…

Home -> 5752 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“And know this day and lay it to your heart that Hashem, He is G-d.” (4:39)

We may question the use of the word emunah, “faith”, regarding belief in Hashem. Is it not one of the most basic axioms that a world such as ours could not have come into existence and continue to endure without a supreme Creator and Ruler? This is especially obvious when one notes the intricacies of human development. It is not even remotely possible for man to have appeared on earth without any form of Divine intervention. The Rambam cites the above pasuk as the proof text for the knowledge that there is a supreme Creator who is the very…

Home -> 5752 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“And he shall flee unto one of these cities and he shall live.” (4:42)

The Rambam states that a student who is exiled to the cities of refuge because he has inadvertently killed a fellow Jew must be accompanied by his Torah teacher. He cites the word “hju” – “and he shall live”, as the basis for this law. Torah is the lifeblood of a Jew. Torah study keeps one’s soul alive in this world and enables him to continue life even after his physical death. Since a student cannot properly study without his teacher, his “rebbe” is obligated to go with him. One who understands the value of this life force will…

Home -> 5752 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“Hear, O’ Israel, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One.” (6:4)

This pasuk has been emphasized more than any other words of the Torah. We are commanded to recite it twice daily, to bind it to us in our Tefillin, and to write it in the Mezuzahs on our door posts. Throughout our tumultuous history this pasuk has been our source of courage, inspiration, and salvation. It has been the first pasuk a Jew is taught as a child and the last he utters before he dies. This proclamation of Hashem’s Oneness has been on the lips of the martyrs throughout the generations as they sacrificed their lives on Kiddush Hashem….

Home -> 5752 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5752

“And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.” (6:8)

We may suggest that this pasuk implies an important truth concerning the manner of serving Hashem. The Tefillin we place on the forehead represent man’s external focus in serving Hashem. This concept is in conformity with the pasuk: And all the people of the earth shall see that Hashem’s Name is called upon you (Devarim 28:10). The Tefillin we place on the arm represent man’s inner struggle in serving Hashem. This concept can be derived from the daily prayer which we recite prior to putting on the Tefillin: That it be opposite the heart to subjugate the desires and thoughts…

Home -> 5751 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5751

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you neither shall you diminish from it that you may keep the commandments of Hashem your G-d which I command you.” (4:2)

It is understandable that one would think that by adopting new mitzvos he will receive a great reward; however, the admonition against subtracting from the original mitzvos is hard to grasp. Is there any legitimate reason to justify decreasing the number of mitzvos in the Torah? Werenot all the mitzvos Divinely transmitted to Bnei Yisroel on Mount Sinai? We may also question the continuation of this posuk – “that you may keep the mitzvos of Hashem your G-d”), how is it conceivable to be able to perform Hashem’s mitzvos by negating and diminishing from their original number? Indeed, we must…

Home -> 5751 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5751

“Since this is your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations, they will hear all these rules and say, “this nation is certainly a wise and understanding people.” (4:6)

The various commentators question the message and response offered to the nations which is implied in this posuk. That the very statutes which defy human rationale should serve as the response and the justification of our being to the idolatrous nations that have sunk to the nadir of depravity, hardly seems likely. Indeed, when Hashem gave the Torah with its various precepts, those which we “think” we comprehend and those which veritably are beyond human grasp, the nations scoffed and ridiculed. However, this scorn and derision continued only until we were able to demonstrate to all the contrasting fruits of…

Home -> 5751 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5751

“And you will make a graven image, even the likeness of anything which Hashem your G-d has commanded you.” (4:23)

Rashi explains this posuk so that the possibility of misinterpretation is circumvented. He defines the phrase “which Hashem commanded you” to mean “which you were commanded not to do“. Despite Rashi‘s redefinition, it still seems puzzling why the Torah did not simply say “which Hashem despises”. The Rebbe of Kotzk Zt”l interprets this posuk’s implication homiletically. He explains the conformity in the meaning of “pesel” (graven image of stone, etc.) and “temunah” (form of likeness, picture). Both of these terms refer to a form which is externally and superficially real, but internally lacks substance and tangibility. A pesel is…

Home -> 5751 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5751

“You shall fear Hashem.” (6:13)

The Talmud in Pesachim (22b) says that the word ,t is mentioned to include Torah scholars among those who should be feared). The Rebbe of Kotzk Zt”l remarked that this can be interpreted to teach us that even Torah scholars are included in the obligation to fear Hashem. One should not reason that it is enough to possess an extra-ordinary amount of scholarship and this will protect a person from any form of evil-doing. This is a great misconception. For one must always maintain himself in awe and fear of Hashem’s greatness and power. Indeed, the fear of Hashem should…

Home -> 5751 -> Va'eschanan

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Va'eschanan, 5751

And He repays His enemies to their face to destroy them.” (7:10)

Rashi explains that Hashem repays His enemies during their lifetime for whatever good deeds they have performed, in order that they be lost in the World-to-Come. This is puzzling. It is known that Hashem does not reward one in this temporal world, since all the pleasures of this world could not measure up to the value of reward effected by the performance of even one mitzvah. Why then are the enemies of Hashem rewarded during their lifetime for their few good deeds. Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz Zt”l explains that Hashem rewards one according to the value the individual places in…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Va'eschanan ->

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it.” (4:2)

“And know this day and lay it to your heart that Hashem, He is G-d.” (4:39)

“And he shall flee unto one of these cities and he shall live.” (4:42)

“Hear, O’ Israel, Hashem our G-d, Hashem is One.” (6:4)

“And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.” (6:8)

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you neither shall you diminish from it that you may keep the commandments of Hashem your G-d which I command you.” (4:2)

“Since this is your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations, they will hear all these rules and say, “this nation is certainly a wise and understanding people.” (4:6)

“And you will make a graven image, even the likeness of anything which Hashem your G-d has commanded you.” (4:23)

“You shall fear Hashem.” (6:13)

And He repays His enemies to their face to destroy them.” (7:10)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!